Aerial and marine craft



244. AERONAU'HCS S..H. LYNN. Azam AND MARINE cam.

APPLICATION ElLED 1U NE 27. 19|?.

1,303,695. Patented May13,1919.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SILAS H. LYNN, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

AERIAL AND MARINE CRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed June 27, 1917. Serial No. 178,326.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SiLAs H. LYNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial andMarine Craft, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a form of combined aerial and marine vehiclecapable of being propelled in the air or water and comprises certainfeatures usually provided in heavier-than-air and lighter-than-airvehicles of Well known form, together with new and novel features of myinvention, which in their combined form, provide a vehicle of greatutility in times of peace or War.

It is an object of this invention to provide propulsion means for myimproved type of vehicle by means of which the same may be raised fromthe surface of the ground or a body of Water in a substantially vertical'or inclined plane, as may be desired or necessary, or propelledhorizontally, according to the necessity of the occasion.

A further object is to provide a cab, or car on which the propulsion andcontrolling mechanism may be supported and having such a form that itmay be adapted for use in the water; a gas bag being also provided forattachment to the cab so as to render the vehicle practically selfsustaining in the air, and the gas bag being subdivided into a pluralityof gas compartments, so that in the event of damage being done to anyportion of the bag, for any reason or by any cause, the remainder of thebag will remain intact and capable of supporting the vehicle in the air.

A further object is to provide a plurality of basket like propellers onopposite sides of the vehicle having thin metallic blades and strapbraces therefor and supported, preferably in inclined planes, andcapable of operation for changing the inclination for changing thedirection of movement of the vehicle accordingly.

A further object is to provide a plurality of transversely disposedplanes at the sides of the vehicle and capable of being opened andclosed, at will, for lending buoyancy to the vehicle and changing theangle of flight. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.o Referring to the drawings, in which similar characters of referenceare employed for indicating the same or like parts, Figure 1 is a planof the craft with the cab and operating mechanism shown in full linesand the gas bag and planes in broken lines, certain of the parts beingomitted for clarity of illustration. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same,partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of thevehicle. Fig. t is an enlarged elevation of one of the propeller drivingshafts, gears and mounting, which is typical of all of such elements.Fig. 5 is a plan of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the wormgearing employed for changing the inclination of each of the propellers.

Fig. 7 is a transverse elevation, partly in section, of the steeringmechanism and supports therefor. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.Fig. 9 is a sectional plan of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, andFig. 10 is a sectional plan of the same on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7.Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the transverse p-laneoperating cranks and connections. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of thecrank operating rod and pulley, by means of which all of the planes oneach side of the vehicle are moved simultaneously, and Fig. 13 is an endelevation of the operating pulley therefor and support, typical ofi bothsides of the vehicle. Fig. 14 is a front elevation of one of thepropellers. Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of one of the supports for theside planes.

The structure of my improved craft includesprimarily, a gas-bag l,preferably of the usual cigar shape, the cab or boat 2 adapted to besuitably secured to the frame of the gas bag, the transversely disposedside planes 3 arranged in series on both sides of the craft in planessubstantially central with the gas bag, and a rudder which is adapted toguide the vehicle in its progress in any ldesired direction.

The gas bag 1 is preferably sub-divided into a plurality of compartmentsv5 with partitions 6 of fabric or other material therebetween andsuitably attached to the transverse ribs 7. In the plane of the majordiameters of the bag 1 suitable encircling ribs 8 are provided which maybe suitably attached at the intersections to the `transverse ribs 7 soas to provide a rigid frame for the outer fabric 9 of the bag, the ribs8 being preferably on the exterior of the bag. Suitable gas valves 10may also be provided for each of the compartments in the bag, for -llingor evacuating the several compartments independently of each other.

The car 2 partakes as nearly as possible of the design of a boa-t, theends being curved upwardly -and inwardly, as shown, for minimizing theresistance when used 1n the water, and the uppermost portions of theends may be suitably secured tothe frame of the gas bag 1. The sides ofthe car have inwardly curved upper portions 11 forming a restrictedopening in the top of the car or boat above the bottom and serving todirect the water which may 'be thrown against the sides outwardlytherefrom during the forward movement of the boat. The end portions ofthe car or boat have covers 12 extending in the direction of the centerof the car, beneath which, storage and sleeping compartments may beprovided for the operators of the vehicle; also sufficient space is hereprovide-d for the storage of an ample supply of fuel for long journeys.

Standards 13 of solid, ribbed or tubular formation, are provided at thesides of the vehicle, the lower ends thereof being secured to the sideportions 11 by means of suitable fittings 14 and the upper ends beingsuitably secured to the ribs 8 of the gas bag 1. The ribs of the gas bagare suitably braced by means of guy wires 16 and the standards 13 aresimilarly braced by means of wires 15, thus providing a rigid structurefor the vehicle. Wheels 17 are provided on the exterior of the bottom ofthe car and supported in suitable brackets 18, thus serving to permitthe movement of the vehicle over the surface of the ground.

The transverse planes 3 are pivotally supported at their forward sideson tubular arms 19 which have relatively long bearings 20 attached tothe lower sides of the gas bag frame and these planes are arched, asshown, and substantially overlap at the ends so that when the free endsthereof are raised the free ends of each of the planes will `closely fitagainst the xed ends of the adjacent planes, thus providing a continuousplane on each side of the vehicle for supporting the vehicle in a truehorizontal plane. An operating crank 21 is provided for each of theplanes 3 with an arm 22 formed thereon and adapted to be pivotally andslidably attached to the inner side rib 23 of the plane frame by meansof a pin or screw 214, and a relatively short arm 25 which is attachableto a longitudinal rod 26 common to all of the operating cranks. Thecranks 21 are pivotally supported on the lower side of the gas bag framein bearings 27 and the arrangement of the cranks is such Vthat when theIoperating rod 26 is moved forward of the vehicle, all of the planes 3will be opened, as shown in Fig. 2, and when moved rearwardly the planeswill be closed for forming a continuous plane, as stated. Y

The rod 26 on each side is moved longitudinally by means of a cable 28operating around a pulley or drum 29 supported on a transverse shaft 30j ournaled in bearings 3l and 32 attached, respectively, to the foremostof the standards 13 and the gas bag frame. The ends of the cable 28 areattached to collars 33 and 34 held on the rods 26 by set screws, orotherwise, one of the collars being 0n It-he opposite side of the pulleyfrom the other, and the movement of the pulley in one or the otherdirection serving to move the rod 26 in a corresponding direction, foropening and closing the planes 3.

The plane operating shafts 30 are provided with pulleys or sprockets 35which are driven by means of a belt or chain 36, in each case, connectedwith a driving pulley or sprocket 37 carried by a shaft 38 journaled inbearings 39 and 40 attached to the forward cover of the car. Each o-fthe shafts 38, which are transversely alined, has a bevel gear 41carried on the inner end and adapted to be operated by means of a commonbevel gear 42 carried on a relatively short longitudinal shaft jcurnaled in a bearing 43 and on the outer end of which is a hand wheel44. Thus the turning of the wheel 44, rotates the shafts 38, by means ofthe bevel gears described, and the upper shafts 30 are rotated tocorrespond by means of the pulleys and belts described, and the openingand closing of the planes on both sides of the vehicle simultaneouslyaccomplished by means of a single operating wheel.

The vehicle is steered in its flight or movement by means of the ruddercomprising a pair 45 of horizontal and a pair 46 of vertical vanesdisposed in planes paralleling the longitudinal axis of the car. Therudder is supported for universal movement relative to the car in a.ball and socket joint 47 attached to the rear of the car 2. Gables 48and 49 are attached to and lead from the corners of the vanes 45 to theinterior o f the car, and similar cables 50 and 51 extend from the vanes46 to theinterior, suitable pulleys 52 being provided between the bottom53 and false bottom 54 of the car over which the cables operate and theninner ends of the cables are connected with the steering mechanism inthe manner hereinafter described.

A steering column 55 of tubular cross scction is provided with anenlarged lower housing 56 having trunnions 57 on the sides thereof which-arejournaled in suitable bracket bearings 58 supported on the floor ofthe car. A vertical shaft 59 is revolubly supported in the column 55 andis provided within the housing 56 with a drum 60 which is centrally heldrelative to the axis of the 244. AERONAUTIGS trunnions and which isadapted to receive two or more turns of the cables 48 and 49 attached tothe Vanes 45 of the rudder.

The column 55, together with the drum 60 and steering shaft 59, ismovable about the axis of the trunnions 57 in a vertical planeparalleling the longitudinal center line of the car and the cables 50and 5l leading from the vanes 46 of the rudder are connected,respectively, by means of an eye 61 and an arm 62, to the column 55 atpoints equally distant from the axis and above and below, as shown inFigs. 7 and 8. One of the bearings 5.8 has a quadrant 63 formed thereonwith a plurality of notches 64 formed therein and adapted to be engagedby a latch or pawl 65 held on the lower end of a vertically movable rod66 carried in suitablebearings formed on the side of the column andprovided with a spring 67 for maintaining the engagement between thepawl 65 and the quadrant 63. The locking rod 66 is operated by means ofa yoke lever 68 pivotally held on the column near the top.

Thus the column 55 and the attached mechanism may be moved pivot-ally,backward and forward, when the locking rod 66 is released from thequadrant, for the purpose of moving the rudder in a vertical plane tochange the a'scending or descending angle of the vehicle, by means ofthe cables 50 and 51. The shaft 59 has a hand wheel 69 at the top bymeans of which the shaft and drum 60 may be turned in the column formoving the rudder laterally for changing the lateral angle of thevehicle. It will be obvious that the universal action of the steeringmeans described provides an eiicient method of directing the movement ofthe vehicle at any angle vand eliminates the necessity for two separaterudders and steering wheels, such as are sometimes provided.

In the drawings a pair of motors 70 are shown for propelling the vehiclein the air or on the water, but one or more than two may be used ifnecessary. As shown, each motor operates a countershaft 71 by means ofsprockets or pulleys 72 and 73 placed respectively, on the countershaft71 and the crank shaft of the motor and connected by means of chains orbelts 74. The countershafts are journaled at the ends in bearings 75formed on brackets 76 supported in any suitable manner on one ofstanchions or standards 13 and in bearings 77 secured to the frame ofthe gas bag 1. A pair of transversely alined propeller shafts 78 arepositioned in the vertical plane of the countershafts-and the inner endsthereof are journeled in bearings 79 secured to the frame of the gas bagwhile the outer ends thereof are journaled in bearings 80 formed on andeX- tending inwardly from the propeller yokes 81, as shown in Figs. 4and 5.

Gears 82 vare carried by the countershafts 71 and drive the shafts 78 bymeans of gears 83 thereon, thus providing means for operating thecentral set of propellers. The

outer ends of the shafts 78 are provided with v76 and the inner endsthereof carry sectors 94 which mesh with and are adapted to be pivotallymoved by worms 95 carried on the longitudinal shafts 96 which arejournaled in bearings 97 formed on the brackets 76. Motion iscommunicated to each of the other lpropellers on the opposite sides ofthe vehicle by means of a common driving shaft 98 journaled in each ofthe bearings 99 on brackets 76, and spiral gears 100 and 101 operablyconnect the shafts 98 with the transverse shafts 78. It should beunderstood that each propeller unit is identical except for theprovision of the primary driving means connected with the central set ofpropellers and motion is communicated to each set of propellers bothforward and rearward of the central set by means of the shafts 98.Likewise, the worm shafts 96 are connected with each set of propellerson their respective sides of the vehicle and one of the sectors 94 isprovided in eac-h case so that the movement of the worm shaft on oneside of the vehicle will simultaneously move all of the propellers to auniform degree, thus changing their position from their lowermostdiagonal plane as shown in Fig. 4, to a plane at angles thereto.

Each of the Worm shafts 96 is provided with an independent operatingwheel 102 which is supported on a bracket 103 mounted on the forward endof the vehicle and has a pulley or sprocket 104 attached thereto whichis connected by means of a chain or belt 105 with a similar pulley orsprocket 106 mounted on shaft 96.

The propellers, when in their lowermost positions, as shown in Fig. 4,serve to raise the vehicle from the ground or surface of the water, butwhen the worm shafts 96 are turned by means of the hand wheels 102 inone or the other direction, the inclination of the propellers is changedcorrespondingly and the propellers in such case serve to move thevehicle either forward or backward according to the angle and such angleof operation may be preserved for as long a time as may be desirable.

The structure shown and described discloses a practical and operativedevice, but

The propellers 89 com the same may be modified and changed in manyrespects Without departing from the spirit or enlarging the scope of myinvention. The principle employed in the operation of the variouselements forming a part of this invention may be carried outsuccessfully with the operating devices shown, or other devices ofsimpler or more elaborate character may be substituted Jtherefor inorder to provide a greater or less range of usefulness for the Vehicle.The provision of tWo motors is desirable for the reason that in theevent one of them should become disabled when the vehicle is in the airthe other may be used for propelling the vehicle, or both may be used ashereinbefore described.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an aerial and marine craft, a gas bag having a plurality ofcompartments formed therein, an external frame Work extendinghorizontally therearound, a plurality of internal reinforcing ribsextending around the periphery of said bag opposite said compartments, aplurality of stanchions attached to said frame Work and dependingtherefrom, a ear supported on the lower end of said stanchions, and aplurality of tiltable planes laterally disposed relative to said bag,and supported on said stanchions for regulating the flight of the craft.

2. In an aerial and marine craft, a gas bag having a plurality ofcompartments formed therein, an external frame Work extendinghorizontally therearound, a plurality of internal reinforcing ribsextending around the periphery of said bag opposite said compartments, aplurality of stanchions attached to said frame Work and dependingtherefrom, a car supported on the lower end of said stanchions, and aplurality of tiltable planes laterally disposed relative to said bag,supported on said stanchions for regulating the flight of the craft, andmeans for simultaneously tilting all of said planes.

3. In a craft of the character described, the combination With a car anda motor therein, a gas bag supported above said car, a plurality oftiltable planes extending outwvardly from each side of said gas bag, adrive shaft extending transversely of said car, a plurality of propellershafts operably lconnected with said drive shaft, a propeller disposedat an oblique angle to and adapted 4to be operated bv each of saidpropeller and adapted to be operated by each of said propeller shafts, alongitudinal shaft on each side of said car capable of operation forswinging said propellers bodily around the axes of their supports, andmanually operable means for operating said longitudinal shafts.

5. In a craft of the character described, the combination With a earhaving a motor therein, a drive shaft supported transversely on saidcar, a longitudinal shaft on each side of said car for operation by saiddrive shaft, a plurality of driven shafts operated by each of saidlongitudinal shafts, a yoke support on each of said driven shafts, apropeller shaft carried by each of said supports at an oblique angle toand adapted to be operated by said driven shafts, a propeller on each ofsaid oblique shafts, and manually operable means for oscillating saidsupports, for the purpose described.

Signed at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, this 11th day of June, 1917.

SILAS H. LYNN.

Witnesses:

C. O. ALBRIGHT, LUTHER L. MACK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

